Oil change reminder unit



S p 3, 1940- J. BURKE OIL CHANGE REMINDER UNIT Filed May 25, 1938 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 3, i949 This invention relates to new and improved oil change reminder units and to a new and improved assembly of such reminder units by which they are made available in a convenient and useful form Without soiling.

The usual type of oil change reminder unit consists of a paper or celluloid tag provided with a hole or slot by means of which it can be fastened to the hand throttle on the dashboard of an automobile. These tags suffer from the disadvantage that they readily become disengaged from the hand throttle or other portion of the automobile to which they are fastened and are lost, thus making it impossible for the owner of the car to know when to change the oil and have the car greased.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a new and improved type of oil change reminder unit which cannot become readily detached from the portion of the automobile to which it is applied. and hence, does not become lost easily.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved type of oil change reminder unit which can be used on any type of automobile and which can readily be applied to and removed from any smooth plane surface, as, for example, the dashboard or the windshield, without marring said surface.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a means of assembling a plurality of said oil change reminder units in a form in which they are readily accessible to the operator of a gasoline filling station and in a manner such that they may be kept without substantial soil- Still a further object is the provision of reminder units of the type described with a minimum amount of waste.

In accomplishing these objects in accordance. with this invention, 1- provide an oil change reminder unit comprising a base material having one surface adapted to receive writing, printing and the like, and the opposite surface coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive of such a nature that the unit may be readily applied to and removed'from plane surfaces, as, for example, the

windshield, the dashboard or other smooth metal sensitive adhesive in conjunction with small un cut marginal portions of the reminder units. For the purpose of this invention said reminder units to be assembled in book form are preiei ably mounted on holland cloth or some othertion will be apparent by reference to the following description in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing, in which: Figure i represents a book or assembly 0 oil change reminder units;

Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged view of one of the sheets of said units from the book of Figure 1 with parts broken away and showing the manner in which individual reminder units may be removed from the complete assembly unit;

Figure 3 illustrates an} individual oil-change reminder unit showing the manner in which the hollandcloth or other strippable backing material is removed from said unit prior to attach- 'ing it to the windshield, dashboard, mirror or otherpart of the automobile;

Figure 4 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the reminder unit shown in Figure 3; v

"Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly sheet 'shown in Figure 2 taken along line A--A, and

showing the manner in which each reminder unit is die out;

Figure 6 illustrates a modification of the invention according to which the reminder units may be disposed in, assembled sheet formsubstantially without waste.

As shown in Figure 1, oil change reminder.

units 2 are die out along lines 4 from a sheet .6. Sheet 6 together with similar underlying sheets which have been similarly die cut is assembled and bound in a suitable backing 8 which may contain advertising and instructions for the use of the oil. change reminders. As illustrated, units 2 are preferably completely die cut with the exception of very. small uncut portions l9. These uncut portions ID are preferably provided as aprecaution that units 2 willnot become accidentally dislodged or removed from sheet 6 before they are ready for use. 011 change reminder units 2 are also held in place vby the pressure sensitive adhesive which forms an intermediate layer between the front or print.- able face and the hollandcloth or strippable material on the rear thereof.

The position of the pressure sensitive adhesive is illustrated by the cross-sectional view in Figure 4 in which pressure sensitive adhesive I2 is shown disposed intermediately between the front or printable portion 14 and the rear or strippable portion l6 of unit 2. When unit 2 is die cut along lines 4, 4, as shown by the crosssectional view in Figure 5, the portions I4 and I6 thereof are substantially severed. Likewise, the pressure sensitive adhesive coating 12 is severed.

The cutting is carried out in such a way, however, that the relative position of unit 2 with respect to sheet 6 is not substantially disturbed. As a result, that portion of pressure sensitive adhesive layer I2 which lies on opposite sides of the line of severance immediately tends to come together again and thereby holds unit 2 in its samerelative position. This adhesion of the pressure sensitive adhesive on opposite sides of the'line of severance is readily noticeable when the user attempts to remove unit 2. While said adhesion does not substantially interfere with removal of unit 2 by hand pressure, nevertheless, it does hold the unit in place in sheet 6. Be:- cause of this adhesion, it is possible to die cut substantially the entire outside perimeter of each oil change reminder unit.

In Figure 6 a modified form of the invention is illustrated in which the oil change reminder units I8 are formed in sheet 20 by curved complemental die cuts 22 and parallel straight die cuts 24 and 26. As illustrated in the drawing, curved complemental die cuts 22 preferably have the sameradius of curvature with the centers of the. radii of curvature falling on the same straight line. In some instances it may be desirable to provide small uncut marginal portions 28 and 30. This embodiment of the invention has the advantage of providing a plurality of oil I previously described it is only necessary to remove each unit 2 from sheet 6 by pressing it outwardly as shown in Figure 2. Backing I6 prevents the pressure sensitive adhesive l2 from adhering to the fingers and thus permits ready handling of each unit. While the unit is in the book or prior to removal therefrom, the desired mileage can be noted on the front surface thereof l4, either by writing or printing. As the unit is removed from the book in the manner described with reference to Figure 2, the pressure sensitive adhesive which forms an intermediate layer between the printable surface and the strippable backing readily yields along cut lines to permit removal, and any uncut portions [0 are so small that they may be readily separated without tearing the unit as a whole. When a unit 2 has thus beenremoved, it is ready for application to the windshield, rear view mirror or dashboard of an automobile and this is accomplished simply by stripping away backing material l6 and then pressing pressure sensitive adhesive l2 against the plane surface to which itis to be attached.

In practicing the invention, base material l4 maybe made of any flexible material, one surface of which can be written or printed upon, preferably a cellulosic or fibrous material like paper or a rubber impregnated fibrous material known by the trade name ,of Lexide. The

pressure sensitive adhesive may be any suitable type of pressure sensitive adhesive made of rubher or latex, with or without resinous ingredients and other customary materials.

According to my invention it is preferable that the adhesive be substantially free from resins and other materials which tend to cause a tacky or gummy deposit. The character and nature of this pressure sensitive adhesive is such that the oil change reminder units may be applied,. detached and applied again without destruction.

My invention overcomes many of the difficulties heretofore experienced by automobile owners and operators of gasoline filling stations in keeping a record properly for oil change and greasing. My oil change reminder units are provided in a convenient and accessible form and are easily kept without becoming soiled. More-. over, they are easily detached from their assembled iorm and are readilyv attached to any convenient part of the automobile in accordance with the owners desires. Additionally, once they have been attached to the dashboard of an automobile, or other. part thereof, in the manner previously described, they cannot be detached by accident. On the other hand, when the owner or user does wish to detach one of said units, he can readily do so without marring or otherwise damaging his car. Furthermore, if he likes, he can'readily detach one of said units, change the mileage thereon, and reattach it in the usual manner with no inconvenience and without disrupting or otherwise injuring the unit.

Havingthus described the invention, whatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A sheet of oil change reminder units comprising a flexible base material having on one side a printable surface and on the other side a pressure sensitive adhesive, and a strippable covering over said pressure sensitive adhesive, said pressure sensitive" adhesive extending throughout substantially the entire area of said sheet, said sheet being die cut through its entire thickness except 'for comparatively small uncut portions to define oil change reminder units, the pressure sensitive adhesive at the cut edge of each unit serving to reclose the die cut slit and providing in conjunction with the un'cut portions firm support for maintaining theoil change reminder unit in assembled relationship with the sheet until actually removed therefrom.

2. A sheet of oil change reminder units comprising a flexible base material having on one side aprintable surface and on the otherside a pressure sensitive adhesive, and a strippable cQavering over said pressure sensitive adhesive, said sheet being die cut through its entire thickness except for comparatively small uncut portions to define oil change reminder units, the pressure sensitive adhesive covering the marginal cut surface of each unit and the surface of the sheet adjacent to each unit, the pressure sensitive adhesive at the cut edge of each unit serving to reclose the die cut slit and providing in conjunction with the uncut portions firm support for maintaining the oil change reminder units in assembled relationship with the sheet until actually removed therefrom.

LAWRENCE J. BURKE.- 

